Gas-driven timer



United States Patent 3,230,323 GAS-DRIVEN TIMER Virgil K. Concannon, Box 121, Mt. Arlington Blvd, Landing, NJ. Filed Feb. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 342,316 4 Claims. (Cl. 200-33) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), see. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

The present invention relates to timing apparatus which is powered by gas, instead of by a spring, electric motor, weight or such. Prior timers are not fully reliable for all purposes, are complex, are expensive or fail to operate as reliably as might be desired.

In the drawing, exemplary apparatus embodying the present invention is illustrated.

A source of gas, such as cartridge 1, is controlled by valve 3. When valve 3 is opened chamber 5 is filled and gas flows out through 6 to turbine 7. Turbine 7 is connected by apparatus 8 to motion-converting apparatus such as cam 9 which moves plunger 11 down to close valve 13.

When valve 13 is closed, gas can no longer escape therefrom. Pressure then builds up in chamber 5 and the pressurized gas then begins to move through orifice 15 into bellows 17. Bellows 17 expands carrying contact bar 19 against electrical contacts 21 to thus complete a circuit through electrical leads 23.

From the foregoing it is obvious that opening of valve 3 sets the timer in operation and at a later period of time contacts 21 are closed by bar 19. The time required to close the valve will be a function of how fast gas is admitted through valve 3. If only one closing of contacts 21 is desired, plunger 11 may be designed to jam tight and remain against valve seat 13. If cyclical open- .ing and closing of contacts 21 is desired, plunger 11 barely closes valve 13 without jamming, but turbine 7 continues turning and cam 9 then permits spring 12 to withdraw plunger 11 to allow gas to escape through valve 13 again. This permits excess pressure from Patented Jan. 18, 1966 chamber 5 to drain off, pressure in bellows 17 is reduced by gas escaping through orifice 15, and bellows 17 withdraws contact bar 19 from contacts 21 to break the circuit through electrical leads 23. Thus, the cycle may repeat itself periodically as long as gas flows through valve 3.

The gas passing through orifice 15 could be used to power other types of motor devices instead of bellowsrnotor 17, or the bellows or other motor could be used to perform other work functions in addition to or besides closing contacts 21.

As my invention, I claim:

1. Timing mechanism comprising:

a source of gas under pressure;

a chamber and means to feed gas from said source to said chamber,

flow responsive means in fluid communication with said chamber to utilize the gas to produce mechanical motion;

a first outlet from the chamber;

means connected to said flow responsive means to close said first outlet;

at second outlet from the chamber;

motor means connected to the second outlet to perform a work function.

2. Timing mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flow responsive means closes and opens said first outlet cyclically.

3. Timing mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means operable through the second outlet comprises a reciprocating motor device carrying an electrical contact bar, and electrical contacts to be closed by the bar.

4. Timing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein means is provided in said first-mentioned means to control the flow of gas from the source into the chamber.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,726,295 12/1955 Bush et al. 20082 2,843,706 7/1958 Oppel 200-82 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

H. M. FLECK, Assistant Examiner. 

1. TIMING MECHANISM COMPRISING: A SOURCE OF GAS UNDER PRESSURE; A CHAMBER AND MEANS TO FEED GAS FROM SAID SOURCE TO SAID CHAMBER, FLOW RESPONSIVE MEANS IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH SAID CHAMBER TO UTILIZE THE GAS TO PRODUCE MECHANICAL MOTION; A FIRST OUTLET FROM THE CHAMBER; MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID FLOW RESPONSIVE MEANS TO CLOSE SAID FIRST OUTLET; A SECOND OUTLET FROM THE CHAMBER; MOTOR MEANS CONNECTED TO THE SECOND OUTLET TO PERFORM A WORK FUNCTION. 